Vial



E. PI DELK, JR

Jan. 24, 1961 VIAL Filed Dec. 22, 1958 [dye/7e R .De/k, (/f.

INVENTOR ATTORNEY VIAL Eugene P. Delk, Jr., Bellaire, Tex. (4603 Oleander, Houston 101, Tex.)

Filed Dec. 22, 1958, Ser. No. 781,965

3 Claims. (Cl. 215-41) This invention relates to new and useful improvements in a vial.

It is an object of this invention to provide a vial having a novel closure means.

It is another object of this invention to provide a vial having means for locking the cap in place thereon against accidental removal or removal by small children.

With the above and other objects in view, the invention has relation to certain novel features of construction, operation and arrangement of parts more particularly defined in the following specifications and illustrated in the accompanying drawings, wherein:

Figure 1 is an elevational perspective view of the device.

Figure 2 is an elevational cross sectional view of the device.

Figure 3 is a top cross sectional view taken on the line 33 of Figure 2, and

Figure 4 is a fragmentary elevational view, in cross section, showing the closure means being moved out of locking position.

Referring now more particularly to the drawings, the numeral 1 designates a vial, such as a cylindrical plastic container, the vial 1 being of the type used in packaging pills and similar types of medicines. A series of transverse ports, as 2, 2, are formed in the vial 1 adjacent the open end thereof. Any number of ports as desired may be provided, however, it is believed three ports will be the proper number to provide a satisfactory closure.

A cap 3 is formed of a similar type of plastic material, such as a flexible polyethylene plastic, one-sixteenth of an inch thick. The cap 3 has the outer downwardly turned flange 4 and has an inner flange 5 and a floor 6. A head 7 is formed on the inner wall of the flange 5, and a plurality of outwardly extending projections 8, 8, preferably upwardly turned, are formed on the outer surface of the inner flange 5, and are positioned to extend through the ports 2, 2.

When the cap is in closed position as shown in Figure 2, it may he removed from the vial 1 only by applying an upwardly and outwardly directed pressure against the bead 7, to cause the cap to yield and the inner flange 5 to ted Sttes Pat t bend inwardly, moving one of the projections 8 out of the port 2, and permitting the cap to be lifted upwardly out of the vial. If the vial should fall into the hands of small children, a direct pull upwardly on the cap will not permit the cap to be removed from the vial, the projections 8, 8 forming a lock. Bending the outer flange outwardly will cause the inner flange to bend inwardly, and will not release the locking means. Only by exerting a strong upward and outward pressure on the bead 7 at a position opposite the location of one of the projections 8 will permit the cap to be removed.

While the foregoing is considered a preferred form of the invention, it is by way of illustration only, the broad principle of the invention being defined by the appended claims.

What I claim is:

1. In a vial, a cylindrical plastic body being closed at one end and being open at the opposing end, transverse ports through the side walls of said cylinder adjacent the open end thereof, a cap to be mounted on the open end of said cylinder having an outwardly and downwardly extending outer flange and a downwardly extending inner flange, outwardly projecting members on said inner flange adapted to be mounted in said ports, and a yieldable bead on said inner flange.

2. In a vial, a cylindrical body of plastic material being open at one end and closed at the opposing end, transverse ports in said cylinder adjacent said open end, a closure adapted to be mounted in the open end of said body having inner and outer yieldable flanges, said inner flange being adapted to be mounted in said cylinder and outwardly extending projections on said inner flange being positioned to be received by said ports and said outer flange extending outwardly and downwardly covering the projections and ports.

3. In a vial, a cylindrical body of plastic material being open at one end and closed at the opposing end, transverse ports in said cylinder adjacent said open end, a closure of yieldable plastic adapted to be mounted in the open end of said body having inner and outer yieldable vertical flanges, said inner flange being adapted to be mounted in said cylinder and said outer flange extending outwardly and downwardly, outwardly extending projections on said inner flange being positioned to be received by said ports and an inwardly extending bead on the upper end of said inner flange movable upwardly and outwardly to move said projections out of said ports.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,690,947 Roehrl Oct. 5, 1954 2,721,595 Nichols Oct. 25, 1955 2,746,632 Bramming May 22, 1956 2,801,741 Harness et a1. Aug. 6, 1957 

